Farfan latest to leave Union for team in Mexico

The Union’s Michael Farfan, left, battles Salt Lake’s Kyle Beckerman for the ball in a 2012 game. Farfan made the All-Star game in 2012, but started only 22 times in 2013. (Times Staff/Robert J. Gurecki)

CHESTER — In an offseason of departures, the Philadelphia Union confirmed another subtraction Monday.

The Union officially recognized the transfer of midfielder Michael Farfan to Mexican club Cruz Azul Monday, a mere two days after the player was officially unveiled by his new club.

The Mexican club also swooped in for two other MLS players — San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Rafael Baca and Los Angeles midfielder Jose Villarreal. Baca and Farfan are moving on a permanent basis, while the Galaxy confirmed that the move for homegrown player Villarreal is a year-long loan.

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The official account for Cruz Azul tweeted photos of the players in club jerseys at an introductory function Saturday, and MLS published a report without providing confirmation on its site that day as to the possibility of the move. Officially, per the Union’s release, the deal is “subject to finalization of agreement with Cruz Azul.”

“Michael has been an important member for our club both on and off the field over the past three years,” Union manager John Hackworth said. “We thank him for his contributions to the Union and wish him the best of luck as he continues his career in Mexico.”

Putting aside the minor-league red tape and canned quotes, Farfan’s departure seems to fulfill a desire harbored by both he and his brother, Gabriel, to play in Mexico. Both are of Mexican heritage, though they came through the American college ranks.

Michael Farfan was drafted out of the University of North Carolina with the 23rd overall pick in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft. In three seasons with the club, the 25-year-old scored four goals and added nine assists in 82 matches (66 starts). His best season came in 2012, when he scored once and added five assists while playing in 32 of the team’s 34 league games. That earned him a place in the 2012 All-Star Game at PPL Park.

Arguably his most important moment for the club came in a friendly with Real Madrid in 2011 when he scored a sensational volley from distance. In the league, he finished third in the Rookie of the Year balloting that season.

Farfan found playing opportunities limited in 2013, starting just 22 times and playing 800 fewer minutes than the previous season. He also had to endure the trade of Gabriel to Chivas USA in May as well as not fitting in directly to Hackworth’s tactical system. He scored one goal, an indirect free kick inside the box July 12 that proved to be the match-winner against Chivas.

Farfan turned in better performances as the season wore on, going the full 90 minutes in the last four matches in which he was available (save the penultimate game against Montreal, from which he was suspended for yellow-card accumulation). That late surge inspired some optimism as to his future role with the Union and apparently did enough to attract the interest of a club like Cruz Azul.

While financial terms of the deal were not disclosed per MLS policy, the Union are likely to receive a significant transfer fee for Farfan, who was under contract for another year. Farfan will also likely receive a significant pay increase south of the border from the $136,170 in guaranteed compensation he was paid in 2013.

As for the Union, the defection of Farfan is another hit to what appears on paper to be one of the thinnest rosters in the Eastern Conference. The league’s least-productive midfield from a season ago has lost arguably its three most creative players in Farfan, Roger Torres and Kleberson. The Union were also quiet in the Re-Entry Draft, selecting only former Chicago midfielder Corben Bone, a player without an MLS goal in four seasons in the league who found opportunities few and far between with the Fire.

The contingent slated to return next season — captain Brian Carroll, Michael Lahoud, Keon Daniel, Danny Cruz and Bone, plus a number of young players on the fringes of the squad — makes for grim reading. The Union have time to solidify those ranks and will likely use their eight picks, including four in the top 27 picks, in the MLS SuperDraft to do just that.